Automatic reservoir drain valve

ABSTRACT

A drain valve for automatically discharging fluid from a reservoir, which operates when variation in the fluid pressure occurs. An internal valve operates to prohibit operation of the valve below a preset reservoir pressure. The drain valve has two inlets permitting variation of attachment to a reservoir. A modification of the valve includes an electric heating element for preventing malfunction due to extreme cold.

United States Patent Cannella Apr. 25, 1972 1541 AUTOMATIC RESERVOIR DRAIN 3,052,253 9/1962 Priaroggia et al ..137/341 x VALVE 3,080,882 3/1963 Baker ..l37/341 X 3,533,433 10/1970 Berg ..l37/204 [72] Inventor: Joseph L. Cannella, 155 North 21st 2 232 99 2 941 Aikman U 137/204 A Melrose Park, 60160 2,662,544 12/1953 Hall ..137 204 [22] Filed: Sept. 2, 1969 ,51 ,430 6/1970 Valentme ..l37/204 [21] Appl. No.: 854,592 Primary Examiner-Samuel Scott Anorney-Parker, Carter & Markey [52] U.S. Cl ..l37/34l [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int.Cl ....Fl6k 49/00 [58] Field of Search ..137 204, 341 A drain valve for automatically discharging fluid from a reservoir, which operates when variation in the fluid pressure oc- [56] References Cited curs. An internal valve operates to prohibit operation of the valve below a preset reservoir pressure. The drain valve has UNITED STATES PATENTS two inlets permitting variation of attachment to a reservoir. A modification of the valve includes an electric heating element 2,009,218 7/1935 Baumhauer et al. ..'..l37/34l X for preventing malfunction due to extreme cold 2,262,577 11/1941 Eichmann "137/341 1 2,324,337 7/1943 Jomsland ..l37/34l X l Claim,2Drawing Figures AUTOMATIC RESERVOIR DRAIN VALVE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a fluid discharge drain valve that operates automatically as a function of variation in fluid pressure in the reservoir to which it is secured. If the fluid pressure of the reservoir drops below a predetermined level, an internal valve closes to prevent further loss of pressure.

The primary purpose of the invention is a drain valve that will automatically discharge unwanted fluid from a reservoir or the like.

Another purpose is a drain valve that discharges unwanted fluid from a reservoir without appreciably affecting the level of pressure within the reservoir.

Another purpose is a drain valve having two inlets, permitting attachment to either horizontal or vertical surfaces of a reservoir or the like.

Another purpose is a drain valve that will function properly when attached to either horizontal or vertical surfaces of a reservoir or the like.

Another purpose is a drain valve which may be manually operated at any time.

Another purpose is a drain valve having an electric heating circuit for preventing malfunction due to extreme cold.

Other purposes may become apparent in the ensuing I drawings, specifications and claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top view ofthe invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1 ofthe invention, including a modification.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The valve indicated generally at I0, has a housing including the body portion 12 and the closure 14. The closure 14 is secured to the body portion 12 by bolts 16 or the like. The O- Ring l8 in the annular groove of the closure 14 provides a water tight seal.

Dual inlets 22, 24 are provided with threads 26, 28 for securement to a reservoir or the like, and may be ofequal size, as shown, or of different sizes. Securement to a reservoir may require capping or otherwise closing the unused inlet. Either inlet communicates with passage 30 wherein the internal inlet valve indicated generally at 32, controls communication between the passage 30 and passage 34 leading to chamber 36. The inlet valve 32 has a spring 38 biasing the valve to a closed position. Spring locking clip 40 is removable, to permit access to change the spring, thereby providing adjustment of the fluid pressure required to open the valve.

Within chamber 36 is a shuttle assembly, indicated generally at 42, which has a flexible annular skirt 44 permitting one directional flow. Annular seal 48 is attached to the cylindrical extension 50 of shuttle assembly 42 which closes the outlet 52. Communicating with chamber 36 is a second chamber 54 having substantially greater volume. The interior slo ing surface 56 of the closure 14 facilitates drainage of fluid from either chamber to the outlet. A screen 58 provides protection from external particles entering the chambers through the outlet 52.

A modification of the invention is indicated generally at 60, where the plug used for closing the inlet has a passage 62, a spring 64 biasing a stop valve 66 which is in seating engagement with annular flange 68. The handle 70 may have a chain or the like [not shown] attached thereto, which when pulled would open the spring biased stop valve 66.

Another modification of the invention includes an electric heating element 74, suitably electrically insulated, placed within the indention 72 of the body portion 12 and is secured therein by the use of a potting compound 78 or the like. The circuit has a lead 80 or connection to an external electrical source not shown, and is grounded to the housing at 82.

The use, operation and function of the invention is as follows:

The automatic drain valve is secured to a reservoir or the like, by use of the inlet threads of either of the two inlets, the remaining inlet being closed with a plug or the like.

If the fluid pressure within the reservoir to which the valve is attached is greater than the force of the spring 38 within the inlet valve 32, the inlet valve will remain open permitting communication between the reservoir and chamber 36 by way of passages 30, 34. Fluid will flow from the reservoir to the inlet side of the chamber 36, past the deflecting skirt 44 to the portion of the chambers 36, 54 near the outlet 52. A drop in the reservoir pressure will cause the pressure on the outlet side of the shuttle assembly to be greater than the pressure on the inlet side, thereby causing the shuttle assembly 42 to move upward toward the inlet, thereby opening the outlet 52 permitting exit of the fluid from chambers 36, 54. The opening of outlet 52 also allows the pressure of the outlet side of the chambers to drop while fluid is being discharged, and when the pressure is equal to or below the pressure on the inlet side of the shuttle assembly 42, the shuttle assembly will move toward the outlet and close it.

When the reservoir pressure drops below the pressure necessary to keep the inlet valve 32 open, it will close and prevent possible complete pressure loss in the event the shuttle assembly malfunctions and remains open.

In the event severe cold prevents the proper operation of the drain valve, the modification of the heating element may be energized by suitably connecting the lead 80 to an electrical source.

The modification plug 60 allows the manual discharge of fluid at any time by opening the stop valve 66 by use of the handle 70.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic reservoir fluid drain valve including a housing, formed and adapted for connection with a reservoir, first and second fluid chambers in said housing, a shuttle valve member controlling communication between said chambers, an outlet in said housing communicating said second chamber with atmosphere, said shuttle valve member having a portion controlling communication of said second chamber with atmosphere through said outlet, an axially disposed fluid inlet connectable to a reservoir, a radially disposed inlet identical with said axially disposed inlet and alternatively connectable to said reservoir, a passage communicating said inlets with said first chamber, said shuttle valve member permitting flow of fluid pressure from said first to said second chamber and precluding flow of fluid pressure from said second to said first chamber, said shuttle valve member portion being movable away from said outlet to open the same in response to excess fluid pressure in said second chamber over that in said first chamber, said shuttle valve member being operable entirely and solely in response to fluid pressure differentials in said first and second chambers, and a safety valve means controlling communication of both said inlets through said passage to said first chamber and yieldingly urged into a position closing said passage in response to a predetermined low pressure level delivered at said housing from said reservoir, a crescent-shaped depression in said housing and about said axially disposed inlet, the opposed ends of said depression being positioned adjacent and on opposite sides of said radially disposed inlet and an electrical heating element positioned within and extending substantially throughout the length and depth of said depression.

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1. An automatic reservoir fluid drain valve including a housing, formed and adapted for connection with a reservoir, first and second fluid chambers in said housing, a shuttle valve member controlling communication between said chambers, an outlet in said housing communicating said second chamber with atmosphere, said shuttle valve member having a portion controlling communication of said second chamber with atmosphere through said outlet, an axially disposed fluid inlet connectable to a reservoir, a radially disposed inlet identical with said axially disposed inlet and alternatively connectable to said reservoir, a passage communicating said inlets with said first chamber, said shuttle valve member permitting flow of fluid pressure from said first to said second chamber and precluding flow of fluid pressure from said second to said first chamber, said shuttle valve member portion being movable away from said outlet to open the same in response to excess fluid pressure in said second chamber over that in said first chamber, said shuttle valve member being operable entirely and solely in response to fluid pressure differentials in said first and second chambers, and a safety valve means controlling communication of both said inlets through said passage to said first chamber and yieldingly urged into a position closing said passage in response to a predetermined low pressure level delivered at said hoUsing from said reservoir, a crescent-shaped depression in said housing and about said axially disposed inlet, the opposed ends of said depression being positioned adjacent and on opposite sides of said radially disposed inlet and an electrical heating element positioned within and extending substantially throughout the length and depth of said depression. 